With each lightning strike, the device emits an audible sound and tells you how far away the lightning is. LED lights flash to indicate distances of 0-3 miles, 3-8 miles, 8-20 miles or 20-40 miles away.

Commons said school district policy is to stop the event when the SkyScan indicates lightning is three to eight miles away. Coaches then wait 20 minutes before deciding whether to continue. It cost $189.95.

Smaller devices available

StrikeAlert works similarly to the SkyScan, but gives different ranges.

Red LED lights tell you if the strike was between 0 to 6 miles away or from 6 to 12 miles.

And yellow LED lights warn you if it was from 12 to 24 miles away or from 24 to 40 miles away.

The colored lights stay lit for two minutes. If a more recent strike is farther away, the LED indicating this distance will light for two seconds, and then return to complete the two minutes from the nearest strike.

The company points out that you should use it only outside, because it reacts to electromagnetic devices, such as TVs, computers, motors and high-powered electronic equipment.

Commons agreed the lightning detector isn't absolutely accurate. For example, when you're out golfing and press down on the accelerator to the electric cart, the electromagnetic signals set off the detector. It also can be set off when somebody gets a call on a cell phone.

But coaches rely on them at home and at away games, Commons said.

"We'd rather be safe than sorry," he said.

Clearing skies

"Sorry. It won't stick."

The duct tape wasn't quite working -- Jacob couldn't get the tape to stick to the slick mud on his teammate's pants.

But they came up with a better way to hold up Brian's sagging shorts: run the tape through his belt loops, like a belt.

Suddenly, the sun broke through the clouds.

Everybody cheered as Jo Huntsinger told them to start playing again before the next storm came through.

And thanks to the duct tape and the sun, there would be no more sudden flashes for awhile.